$11,000

308

Hi Kickstarter!

Our Goals

Our Story

We've been avid seed ball builders ourselves for years. But last year we started thinking about how to get everyone we meet to join in growing more flowers and creating more colorful neighborhoods.

Why? Because the world needs more good news and less bad news. Wildflowers provide color and joy to our neighborhoods, habitat for pollinators (like honey bees), food for wildlife, natural medicines, and of course they look adorable in our kitchen or as a crown on our little ones.

After 18 months of mixing, planting, and testing like mad scientist kids ourselves... Seedles were born! By mixing clay, compost, seeds and water we make colorful seed balls that grow into wildflowers wherever you toss them.

So now, you, me, and a bunch of our friends are going to do something super bold and fun ... Go wild, and we're talking ONE MILLION kind of wild here, with the most amazing ancient technology ever! We want these colorful wildflower seed balls all over our towns, neighborhoods, and planet! Each Seedle can grow up to 5-10 wild flowers.

Why bees?

Bees pollinate one of every three bites we eat. Disappearing bees = disappearing food. By some estimates they impact $15 billion worth of US crops. As we like to say around here, "If you love your ABC's (Almonds, Berries, and Coffee) help the vanishing busy bees."

Why Grow Wildflowers?

If you really more reasons, read on.

We like to say, "Bee kind to your future self" because growing wildflowers is direct antidote to the challenges the honey bees are currently facing. Your pledges will help feed the bees, who feed our food system, which feeds our bellies. We have links in our FAQ's if you'd like to learn more.

Rewards

Seedles! - Rainbow colored seed balls. Just throw it and grow it! Grow wildflowers appropriate for your region easily. (Activity Kit includes all you need to make them at home.)

Thyme Bombs - Herb Seedles each ball containing a different type of seed such as Basil, Mint, Thyme, Dill, Oregano, Chives & Parsley. You can use these to easily create your own indoor or outdoor herb garden.

Seedles Eggs - Early Bird Special - We send you egg shaped Seedles, you have all the fun painting them.

Make (Big) Kids Smile - Order a bunch for your wedding or a school garden project.

Your pledge will help fund:

Production Scaling and Improvements - Right now we're making them by hand, your support will fund the design and development of a process which will produce 100,000 seed balls in a matter of weeks instead of years.

Materials Costs - Ordering in bulk quantities allows us to keep costs down and focus our energy on the production quality.

Movement Building - Yes, we may use some of these funds to buy a burrito with extra guacamole for our late night efforts. Change takes time, but making life fun and getting others involved is where we excel.

What are seed balls?

We made a video to explain how we make them.

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They were used in ancient Egypt to repair farms after the annual spring flooding of the Nile. In the recent past they were popularized by a Japanese Farmer named Masanobu Fukuoka who wanted to find a way to increase food production without taking away from the land like modern methods do.

Why does this matter to you? Well, it matters because they are a time tested solution for easily growing seeds. The clay and compost provide everything the seed needs to grow ... except for the water, which is provided and perfectly timed by annual rains. Therefore, your seeds germinate in ideal conditions for each climate/region. Your seeds don't get eaten by bugs, birds, or other creatures. Instead they are protected and supported as they grow up big and tall.

Why not just make my own Seedles?

We say GO FOR IT! Use the recipe in the video above, have fun making them by getting your favorite seeds, and then toss them anywhere you want to see more plant life.

However, we do want you to know a few reasons why our Seedles rock ... and roll. ;)

Red Clay - A special red clay that feeds the seeds minerals and protects the seeds from insects and birds.

Compost - Three types of compost are used including worm castings, sifted compost, and beneficial bacteria infused compost.

Seeds - Filled with regionally appropriate native wildflower seeds, they can grow up to 5-10 wildflower plants. You will get high germination annual and perennial seeds, which ensures your Seedles will sprout without a doubt this year and in the coming years.

Size - The seedballs you will get are about the size of a nickel. Many other seedballs are too big, and have too many seeds inside causing wasted seeds and too much competition between the young seedlings.

Hot Peppers - We use hot pepper powder to prevent ants, slugs and other insects from trying to eat the seeds before they sprout. This isn't in the coating so it's safe for you to touch.

Some words of caution: Depending on soil and weather conditions not all seeds will sprout. Provide supervision when children play with finished Seedles as well as the activity kits as clay, compost, and earth based pigments should not be inhaled or ingested. Never throw Seedles in wild, sensitive, or protected habitats. All of our hard-earned tax dollars go to keep the plants in those areas safe from being invaded. Respect private property and landscaped yards. After all we are all about building joy.

Our dear friends for feedback and family for food, babysitting and moral support

Risks and challenges

Our biggest challenge is going to be increasing the production of these hand-made Seedles. Right now we are hand making them in our kitchen, one-at-a-time and it is a labor of love. In order to realize the bold vision of growing ONE MILLION wildflowers we need Kickstarter support to produce the 100,000 seedballs it will take.

At a previous project Chris started, Hayes Valley Farm in San Francisco, he and a team of seed ball enthusiasts successfully engineered a process which created around 500-1,000 seedballs per hour. We plan on implementing this process, but have not figured out the exact way to coat the seedballs with color using this process. We have a small but dedicated network of supporters including engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs so we expect this won't be of tremendous difficulty. We have allotted extra time to fulfill the rewards with unforeseen challenges in mind. We will, of course, communicate with you along the way.

Our Easter orders will be challenging to fulfill on time. We will do our best, but we ask in advance for your patience and understanding in case we are not able to turn around the Easter rewards in time.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $33 or more
About $33

EASTER SPECIAL - 50 Wildflower Seedles in rainbow colors + half-dozen brightly colored wildflower eggs to hide OR half-dozen you can color at home. Can you think of a better way to celebrate spring? We can’t. (Non-toxic, kid-friendly color kit included. Easter delivery)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $33 or more
About $33

LET'S BEE FRIENDS - 50 Wildflower Seedles in rainbow colors OR Seedles Activity Kit for extra fun with your kids. The Seedles are perfect for a 4'x 8' planter box, a sidewalk color splash, or a small patch in your yard. The activity kit will let the kids get their hands dirty and their minds full of pollination facts.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

EASTER SPECIAL x 2 - Okay, we did think of a better way to celebrate spring. It’s twice the Easter Special for value pricing! 100 Wildflower Seedles + 12 brightly colored Seedle eggs to hide OR 12 seed eggs to color at home. That’s a lot of seeds and at this price you can egg your kids on to share with friends. (Non-toxic, kid-friendly color kit included, Easter delivery)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $99 or more
About $99

CLASSROOM CHAMPION - Gift this to a local class and get them buzzing about pollination. Comes with 150 Wildflower Seedles of various rainbow colors, and a Curriculum Activity Kit with materials for teacher & students.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $255 or more
About $255

PAINT THE TOWN RED - and green, and yellow, and ... you get the picture. 500 Wildflower Seedles of various rainbow colors. A fool-proof way to transform an entire street of your neighborhood, a good sized patch of land, or to put smiles on a whole summer camp of kids. ** OR ** We transform a colorless lot in your name and send you before and after pictures.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

SUNFLOWERS ENVY YOU - Yes indeed, you're brilliant. To let the bees know just how brilliant we will name a special Seedle blend whatever you wish*. Your own colors? YES! Your own seeds? YES! We will make 1000 Seedles of the mix for you to use, share, or donate. Great as wedding favors, school fundraisers, and event give-aways. You will also receive a limited edition print of Solwind's bee art.